HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will hold a final public hearing and then take action on the revised floodplain maps during Tuesday’s agenda session.
Updates to the floodplain maps began in the Summer of 2017. The flood maps were updated as a requirement of finalizing the levee system accreditation.
A public open house was held in April 2018 to introduce the proposed maps to the public and solicit public comment. A three-month appeal period was opened by FEMA in July 2019. After the three month appeal period, the maps were reviewed and finalized by FEMA. A Letter of Final Determination (LFD) was sent to the Mayor and staff in July of last year. The LFD requires the City to conduct a public hearing and adopt a revised floodplain ordinance, the maps, and the Flood Insurance study within six months of the letter. The new maps and study will become effective on January 29, 2021.
The revised maps add over 200 properties to the floodplain, most south of downtown Hutchinson along Cow Creek. A small number of properties have been removed from the floodplain due to improved modeling.
Federal law requires that properties with federally backed mortgages obtain flood insurance, and all property owners are encouraged to look at obtaining flood insurance, as flood damage is not covered in other insurance policies. Currently, there are 31 active flood insurance policies in the city. That number will likely increase with the passage of the revised map.
Tuesday’s City Council meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Hutchinson city offices. The public can watch the meeting on Youtube.